Home » News Archive » News from 05/01/07 to 05/06/07

Differ Fiesta! Otani Submits Omori!

May 6th, 2007

Along with the GPWA produced "Differ Cup III" this weekend in Differ Ariake, ZERO1-MAX was one of the other alliance members to put on a stand alone show. In the main event was the big tag match of Shinjiro Otani and Kazunari Murakami versus Takao Omori and Toshiaki Kawada.

Otani and Omori have a match for the AWA World Heavyweight title in Osaka on May 10th. Otani himself has been in an aggravated state lately, mostly in relation to Kohei Sato's recent actions.

Otani released some of this anger on current AWA World Heavyweight champion Takao Omori by submitting him with a cross arm breaker in the main event of the show. Otani worked the arm all match, and afterwards commented that his plan was to "Destroy Omori's right arm until Osaka" when he would re-capture the AWA belt. It is with Omori's right arm that he delivers the devestating Axe Bomber. Otani will first face Omori in a tag match on May 8th in Nagoya where he will team with Minoru Fujita against Omori and Yoshihito Sasaki.

As to Yoshihito Sasaki, he was in the opening match with Ryouji Sai versus Kohei Sato and BattlArt's Munenori Sawa. Both Yoshihito and Ryouji have had negatvie opinions on Kohei's recent actions but it has angered the hot-blooded Sasaki more.

During the match, Kohei threw a metal chair at Yoshihito Sasaki and it was a final straw! After the match in the backstage area, Yoshihito found Kohei and the two had a violent fight where Kohei's shirt was torn and Yoshihito bloodied him! "If it's not a match, it's a fight in the street," Yoshihito yelled and then demanded from Otani that he be granted a match on May 8th against Kohei. Kohei has been branded a "Traitor" by several on the roster.

Saki Maemura got her chance to fight Steve Corino one-on-one and it wasn't good for her. Corino relentlessly destroyed her for 7½ minutes before finally finishing her with a Northern Lights bomb. Afterwards Corino and his REM mixed tag partner Toshie Uematsu continued the beatdown and the humiliation. Uematsu will have a singles match versus Saki on May 27th for Pro Wrestling SUN.

On her Pro Wrestling SUN blog Saki wrote the following in regards to the match: "I admit it, though it is mortifying...the results was a complete defeat." Saki had to be carried out of the hall on a stretcher following the bout.

"Everlasting" on May 27th! Corino vs. TAJIRI!

May 6th, 2007

The May 27th ZERO1-MAX show, "Everlasting" will not only showcase the return to active duty of Masato Tanaka from injury, but a special "E-Memory" match. Now it's been released that American wrestler Steve Corino, who has announced his retirement at the end of this year, will battle former ECW ally and opponent Yoshihiro Tajiri. Corino and Tajiri were once part of a stable called the "Network" in Extreme Championship Wrestling but later on had several bloody battles.

This bout will take place almost exactly 7 years to the day of their May 14, 2000 ECW match at ECW's "Hardcore Heaven" in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Victory and Defeat at Differ Cup III!

May 6th, 2007

The Third Differ Cup tournament took place today and yesterday in Tokyo's Differ Ariake. Presented by the Global Pro Wrestling Alliance, the Differ Cup saw eight teams from various GPWA alliance members take part: Junior class tag teams from NOAH, ZERO1-MAX, K-Dojo, BIG MOUTH LOUD, IWA-JAPAN, DDT, El Dorado and a special GPWA designation team.

ZERO1-MAX sent the junior team of Ikuto Hidaka and Osamu Namiguchi to the tournament this year. Opposing them in their first round match was Team NOAH of Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Ippei Ota. Previous to taking part in the tournament, Hidaka and Nami spent some time training in the dojo. Hidaka had stated he felt the most challenging match would be again Team NOAH and that if they surpass them they could very well take the Cup.

The match went almost 19 minutes and saw brawling, lots of high flying and hard hitting as all four fighter used everything they had in their arsenal. Finally as Kanemaru was fighting with Namiguchi outside of the ring, Hidaka hit a high kick on Ota but only got 2! He then hit the low altitude dropkick to the leg and locked on the Shawn Capture. Ota struggled to the ropes as Kanemaru rushed to his rescue. Nami was able to tackle Kanemaru before he could reach the ring, and Hidaka then dragged Ota to the center of the ring, cinches in the hold again and Ota had to tap!

Meanwhile in the other First Round matches of Day 1, Team El Dorado defeated Team IWA-JAPAN, Team DDT beat Team BIG MOUTH LOUD, and Team K-Dojo won over the GPWA's special designation team.

This lead to Hidaka and Namiguchi to face Team K-DOJO of Kengo Mashimo and Madoka in the main event final of Day 1. The match started off with Namiguchi versus Mashimo, and the Differ Cup audience began with the chant "Nami, don't die! Nami, don't die..!"

Nami did survive and this match saw lots of double team combinations as well. At one point it looked as if it may finish just like the first match, when Hidaka managed to trap Mashimo in the Shawn Capture as Madoka fought with Namiguchi on the outside! This time however it was broken up, and after a continuing fight finally Hidaka was knocked outside the ring with double flying knee strikes by Team K-Dojo.

Mashimo then hit the reverse brainbuster on Nami and went to attack Hidaka as Madoka landed the "Shooting Star Pres" for the finisher! Namiguchi was pretty distraught with the loss at the end, and left the ring with the help of Hidaka.

The following day, May 6, Team ZERO1-MAX had to take part in the 3rd place designation match against Team El Dorado of KAGETORA and Hercules Senga. The finals would be Team K-Dojo versus Team DDT and would eventually be won by Kengo Mashima and Madoka.

Before the 3rd place designation match, there was GPWA 10-man tag team match, of which ZERO1-MAX wrestlers Shota Takanishi and Minoru Fujita took part of on opposing teams. The match was decided by the ZERO1-MAX wrestlers as at just over 13 minutes Minoru Fujita pinned Shota with the spinning tombstone piledriver.

As for the 3rd Place Designation match, Hidaka and Namiguchi bounced back from their defeat and won decisively over KAGETORA and Hercules Senga in 13½ minutes. The match ended when Hidaka kicked Senga in the head with a high stray kick while Nami kept KAGETORA busy with a placha.

Kohei Goes Free!

May 1st, 2007

Today at the FIRST ON STAGE offices in Tokyo ZERO1-MAX CEO Yoshiyuki Nakamura met with Kohei Sato about his contract. Shortly after they announced that Kohei is now a free agent. Kohei honored his 4/30 booking by winning the "Fire Festival '07 Assessment Match" over Kamikaze. This was also the final day of his ZERO1-MAX contract.

Kohei said he met today with Mr. Nakamura out of respect as he's "indebted" to him. He announced that yes, he is now a free agent and while there is a story going around that he's transferring to the IGF it's not in his immediate plans. He said he had made "various studies" of other promotions but decided being a freelancer is the way to go, especially considering his current union with Yoshihiro Takayama.

Kohei also said he considered ZERO1-MAX his "old home" and that he expects Young MAX members Ryouji Sai and Yoshihito Sasaki will step-up and fill the void he leaves in the roster. He said he has no grudges towards anybody.

Ryouji Sai and Yoshihito Sasaki both commented on the situation, saying they do not approve of how Kohei has been handling his business. Ryouji also commented on Sato's unprofessional no-shows, saying the most important thing is the respect of the fans.

On that note, Ryouji and Yoshihito will be teaming together this weekend at Differ Ariake against Kohei in a tag match. Alongside Kohei will be BattlArts jr. Munenori Sawa. Look for this match to be a heated fight.